The Lorax complex: Deep ecology, ecocentrism and exclusion

Helen Kopnina*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Biodiversity preservation is often viewed in utilitarian terms that render non-human species as ecosystem services or natural resources. The economic capture approach may be inadequate in addressing biodiversity loss because extinction of some species could conceivably come to pass without jeopardizing the survival of the humans. People might be materially sustained by a technological biora made to yield services and products required for human life. The failure to address biodiversity loss calls for an exploration of alternative paradigms. It is proposed that the failure to address biodiversity loss stems from the fact that ecocentric value holders are politically marginalized and underrepresented in the most powerful strata of society. While anthropocentric concerns with environment and private expressions of biophilia are acceptable in the wider society, the more pronounced publicly expressed deep ecology position is discouraged. "Radical environmentalists" are among the least understood of all contemporary opposition movements, not only in tactical terms, but also ethically. The article argues in favor of the inclusion of deep ecology perspective as an alternative to the current anthropocentric paradigm.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)235-254
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Integrative Environmental Sciences
Volume9
Issue number4
Early online date12 Dec 2012
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • anthropocentrism
  • biodiversity
  • deep green ecology
  • ecocentrism
  • environmental ethics
  • environmental values
  • radical environmentalism
  • representation

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